Battery-holder.



G. N. WATBEBURY, JR.

BATTERY HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 7, 1911 Patented. 00b. 28, 1913.-

- v 4 SHEETS-SHEE-T 1.

G. N. WATERBURY, JR.

, BATTERY HOLDER.

ABPLIUATION FILED DEC. 7, 1911v Patented Oct. 28, 1913 I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.7

With/wows I STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

ononon iv; wnrnnnnmz, an, or wasnmomon, msrmor on consume.

BATTERY-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed December 7, 1911.

Patented Oct. as, 1913. Serial No.- 664,398..

' To all whom it may concern i.

Be it known that I, GEORGE N. WATER- BURY, J12, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Battery-Holders; and I do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description 0 the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains' to-make and use the same, reference being had to the accoml mnyi-ng drawings, and to the letters and lfiguresof reference marked thereon, which form apart of this specification.

This invention relates to a cage or holderfor dry cell electric batteries, and has for its object to provide a holder which is particularly designed for automobile or motor boat use, although as will be clearly evident the same can be advantageously employed in any capacity requiring the use of'a series of electric dry cells.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cage 'or holder for the reception of a series of electric dry cells which are conveniently arranged in a suitable case for service and for transportation.

I A further object of the invention is to provide a battery cage wherein the cells can be connected in series for service eliminating the use of Wire from the binding posts of the cells and from the cells to the case.

A further object of the invention is to provide a battery cage which will accommodate any electric dry cell of standard size and which does not require any special form of dry cell or binding post.

A further object of the invention is to provide a battery cage in which the battery connectors are so constructed and arranged that they will conform to any style of bind ing post now employed on electric dry cells.

A further object of the'i-nvention is to provide a battery cage in which the cells can be immediately inserted and connected or disconnected and removed without the use of tools, implements or appliances, and wit-bout connecting or disconnecting any wires or manipulating the binding posts on the cells.

A further object of the invention is to provide a battery cage which can-be quickly and easily inspected While the cells are in service in such manner that any disconnection or break in the circuit can be readily ascertained.

A further object of the invention is to i provide certain new and useful improvements in battery holders over the U. S. Patent granted to me on April 11th 1911, #989,788, which improvements particularly consist. in the mounting of the battery cage statlonary in the casing so as not to be readily removable therefrom, and in the arrangement of electrical. contacts on the battery cage and on the readily removable top or cover of the casing in such manner that an automatic electrical contact is eilected when the readily removable top of the easing is placed in proper position on the body portion of the casing;

The invention. also consists in the novel construction of the cylindrical holders for the electric dry cells. 1

The invention further consists in the novel construction of the battery connectors which will conform to any type of dry cell now in coi-nmon use.

The invention further consists in the construction which provides for the entire removal of one or more dry cells from the series of dry cells Without breaking the circuit.

The invention consists in thenovel construction of the improvements employed for effecting contact between tive pole on each of the with its cell holder.

The'invel'ition further consists in certain other novel details of construction and in combinations of parts, all of which will be first fully described and afterward specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a partof this specification, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the casing illustrating the arrangement and location of the binding posts thereon which are autom'ath cally connected with the dry cells within. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the removthe zinc or negaelectric dry cells able top or cover of the casing. Fig 3 is a top .plan View ofthe lower or -body portion of the casing illustrating the battery cage therein and the electr c dry cells in a conlOO the casing and through theloattery cage.

v Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View illustrat- 5 ing one of the spring battery connco'ors in contact with its cell holder, the electric cell being removed from the holder. ig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional View through the upper or sleeve portion of one. of the cell holders illustrating the serrated spring con- .act therein. Fig. 7 is a ntaiy plan view illustrating one electric 5 cell and its spring connectthe lustrated in this are being of an unusual L embodies a peculiar binding post the carbon'pole. Fig. 8 a. similar "-TlFF-I illustrating one of the spring connectors in contact with the carbon or positive pole of an electric dry cell of usual type. Fig. 9 is a similar View illustrating one of the spring connectorsin contact with the carbon or positive pole of an electric dry cell of usual type; Fig. 10 is bottom plan View of the cell holders illustrating; the upper board of the cage in plan the o board of the cage being removed and transverse vertical secuic-nal V iew through board of the ng tne for the cells.

Like numerals of reference Will be employed to indicate the same parts throughout the several figures.

For a proper understanding of this invention and for convenience in referring to the accompanying drawings attention is directed to the form of binding post at the carbon or positive pole electric dry cells as illustrated in Figs. 7, and 9. The type of binding post illustrated in 7 will for convenience be designated 53., While the types of hindin carbon or positive poles 0.. t .trated in Figs. 8 and 9 Wil be designated by the letters respectively. Y

Referring now to the construction of the cage and casing the numeral 1 indicates the casing for the cage which comprises the bottom or body portion 2, and the readily reniorable top or cover, the upper edge of the bottom or body 2 being rabbcted at. l; to receive remorable top or cover 3. this construction as will appear from Fig. l. providing a tight and ettectire closure otthe casing for the purpose of preventing moi....urc and dust or dirt from entering the interior of the same, it being of course Well known that for etlicicncy tlie elcctric dry cell should be kept as dry as possible and tree from an undue amount of moisture.

so which the rabbeted bottom edge of the actress";

As will appear from Fig. the battery ployed in the arrangement or construction of the cage. The said upper board 7 is provided with aseries of circular openings or apertures to accommodate the cell holders 8, said cell holders 8 being made up of a cylindrical metallic base 9: having metallic bottom 10 and an upper metallic sleeve por-- tion 11, the said cylindrical metallic base 9 being provided near its upper edge 6) with an annular projecting head 12, the.cy lindrical sleeve portion ll passing over the upper edge of the cylindrical base portion 9 and bottoming on the annular projecting head 12 formed in the cylindrical base portion 9 as is clearly shown in Fig. 6. Te purpose of this construction is to absolutely insure a uniform height of each of the cell holders and to conveniently support the up per board I of the cage uniformly within the casing and to eliminate the necessity of any vertical brace or stays between the base board 6 and the upper board 1 of the cage. in this connection reference is particularly made to Fig. 10 which illustrates in plan the under surface of the upper board 7 or the cage, and it will be seen that upon each of the cylindrical sleeve portions of the cell holders is arranged four lugs 13 which engage said lower surface of the upper board 7 and effectively tie and support the said upper board 7 in a proper and uniform position Within the cash As will appear in Fig. 4- the cell holders are permanently fasten-ed to the base board 6 and to the bottom 1% of the casing l by means of suitable wood screws 15, said Wood screi'vs 15 being pretcrably provided Wit 1 roundheads 16 upon which said cell-holders rest and whereby the latter are retained somewhat elevated from the bottom of their cells. It will be evident from this construction that the battery cave and cell holders are permanently .iectors beingpivotally secured inposition i means of a bolt 17 passing Vertically hrough the upper board '4' of the battery on e and through one of the lugs 13 which connected to and carried on the cylindrical sleeve portion 11 ot the cell holder in such manner that an elect ical connection springconnector 16, each of id 0011- ferring to Fig. 3

orena? can be eficcted between. the cylindrical sleeve portion not a cell holder byineans' of the spring connector pivotally-connected to oneot the lugs 13 on said cylindrical sleeve portion 11 of the said holder.

is arranged a spring contact 22 which is connected to the spring connector 16 for thecarbon or positive pole of its cell; While a similar spring contact 23 is arranged "on the face of the upper board 7 of the battery cage which is in contact with the-zinc or negative pole of tl'ie'series through the medium ofthe log 13 on the cell holder ad jacent thereto,]tl'1e connection between the said spring contact 23 and the lug 13 of the adjacent cell being effected by means of a bolt 24 which passes vertically through the upper board 7 of the battery cage. 'When therefore .the cells are in position as illustrated in Fig; 3 the spring contact 22 becomes the positive "pole ot the' series whilethe spring contact 23 becoincsthe negative pole, saldsprlng contacts 22 and .23 belng' shaped and formed as shown. in Fig. 11 to receive the rigid contact pieces 25 and 26 which are arranged and carried on the re.-

noovablo top or. cover 3' of the casing- As will appear from Fig. 2 a connection is made between each of the said rigld contact pieces 25 and 26 With the binding posts 27 and 28. (Figs. 1 and 4:) by means 'of the metallic strips 29 and 30. In Fig. 2 the said rigid contact pieces 25 and 26 are shown'as having horizontal projecting flanges for engagement with the spring contact pieces 22 and on the upper surface of the battery cage.

In order to effectively and rigidly fasten the removable top or cover '3 in position on the body ofthe casing any suitable fastening means may be employed, such as two verti, callyuthreaded bolts 32 (Fig. 11), passing through the upper board 7 of the battery cage and. entering a threaded lug"33 firs tened on "the sides of thebase or body portion 2 of the casing, and for convenience 1n arrangement-the "carrying" strap 34: -for the holder. is connected. to the removable top y 32 asclearly shown in Fig.1.

or cover 3 by means of the said vertical bolts Referring now, tothe construction of the spring connectors 16 reference is particu lairlymade to Figs. 4, 7., 8 and 9,. The end of each ofthe' spring connectors is. provided with a-longitudiual slot 35 and a long notch or cutoutportion 36 on the inneredge of each of the spring, connectors'adjacont the &

Eli

said slot 35, said notches 36 being substan ti'ally the "same length as the slot; 35 as clearly appearsfrom the drawings; It will be seen, however, by referring to Fig. 42 that the extreme end .oieach of the springlcom meters is bent downwardly substantial y at right angles and is provided witha-ce -V-shaped notch 37 (Fig. l). 1n the con cells illustrated in Figs.-

struction of" dry 8 and 9 the slots and elongated notches 36 engage-the binding D StS onthe' cells in. a manner as shown in F gs. Sand 9 to effect a good close electrical connection between the carbon or positive-poles of said cells and the spring connectors 16. Forth'e typeof binding: posts illustrated in Fig. 7 the slotted and elongated notched construction of the spring connector 16 is of noutility,

but the said springronnector 16 having a normal downward tendency or tension engages the binding post A; the V-shaped notch 37 (Finnel) in the end of the spring: connector IGdropping over the verticalwall of the binding; postA (Fig; 7') in the mannor as illustrated insaid. figure in such Way that a good close electrical contact is eftee-ted between the said binding; post and. the

spring connectoril6. As the three types of binding posts A, B and C (Figs. 7,8 and 9) embodyall of the types in common use itis at once apparent that the spring connector 16 constructed as shown and described is:

quickly applicable to effect a close electrical contact-with all of these types. It therefore natters not as far as the operation of this invention is concerned what make or style of carbon or positive binding post is em- .ployed'on thecells to beused as a good and :eflicient electrical contact can be effected with one as Well as. it can with theother. As it is the universal custom, however, to have-the zinc casing for the dry cell form the zinc or negative-pole of thebattery all of the usual types of dry cells can be utilized in this battery holder. For ellect-ing a good close connectionbetween the zinc poles of the dry cells and the cell holders a plurality of arcuate leafsprings 38 aresecured at their upper ends to. the inner surface of the cylindrical sleveportion 1120f each eithecell holders 8, one. or more of. said l'e af springs .38. being serrated upon. its convexsurfacefas shown at 39 (Figs. 5 and 6 jor the purpose of scratching or cutting into the zinc casingof the dry cell when the same 15 introduced into the holder 8, .thus effecting a close electrical. connection between the zinc pole of the dry cell and its metallihholder 8, the lower cnds of said springsbcing" free to slide upon the base-portion 9 of said.

the top or cover 3- is in position on the bot-- torn or body portion of the casing the rigid sp ingcont-act pieces 25 and 26 on the said top or cover 3 engage the spring contact pieces 2:2 and 23 on the battery cage and automatically connect the binding posts 2? and 28 on the said top or cover 3 of the casing with the electrical drypells within the battery cage. The fastening means for holding the top or cover 3- to the body 2 of the casing is provided to rigidly and effectively hold the top orcover 3 in proper posi tion on the casing and at the same time eil'ectively holds the rigid contactpieces 25 and 26 in a good close electrical contact with the spring contact pieces 22 and 23 on the battery cage, in oroer therefore to wire up the holder to the work to be done the posi re and negative wires need only be connected to the posit ve and negative binding posts 2? and 28 on the top or cover 3 of the casing 1. Should, however, it be desired to remove one or more of the dry cells from the cage and still maintain, the circuit said one or more cells can be quickly lifted out .of its or their holders and the spring connector or connectors 15 swung on their pivots into position shown in 5, in which position the Jehaped notch 37 of each of the spring connectors 16 will 'en gage the vertical wall of the battery met-ab lie holder shown Fig. 5, thus connecting the zinc pole of one battery to the metallic battery holder of the adjacent to ttery, which metallic battery holder is in turn connected by means of the following or adjacent spring connector 16 to the carbon or positive pole of the following or adjacent electric dry cell. The only eliect such an arrangement has upon the circuit is the cutting outof one or more cells which may weaken or strengthen the. circuit according to the condition of the cells, it being of course well known that a dead cell in a circult is detrimental to the circuit, and has the eilect of weakening the same; consequently the vol of the circuit could be improved by w hdrawing the dead cell or cells and connecting the spring connectors 16 in a manner as shown in Fig. 5. When the cells are in'good serviceable condition the voltage of the circuit can be quickly reduced to any proper working voltage by lat os ess? simply Withdrawing one or more cells-from their holders and placing the spring con-' hector 16 in position shown in Fig. 5 Without causing a permanent brealr in the cir-- chit, it being of course inidersood that a momentary will be occasioned as soon as the spring connector 16 is removed from the carbon or positive pole of its battery and will remain broken until the said spring connector 16: is arranged in contact with the metallic cell holder asshovvn in Fig. 5 ln order, however, to permanently break the circuit or to ut lize one of the spring connectors 16 as a switch, said spring connector can be swung on its pivot off its carbon or positive pole and out of engage said casingyineans on said cage for eillecting electrical. connections with said dry cell electric batt res, pair of electrical spring .contacts arranged on said cage and perinanently connected thereto, a pair of electrical contact pieceson said top of said casing and permanently attached thereto, said electrical contact pieces having lateral flanges at their lower ends, .to engage and contact with said pair of electrical contacts on said or when said top is applied to the y person of the casing, suitable binding posts on top and electrical connections the said contact pieces on said top and the said binding posts, the whole arranged in sch manner that the said electric dry cells are-connected to the said bind- .ing posts when the said removable top is in position on the body of the casing and the electrical connection between the said electric dry cells and the said binding posts is broken when the said removable top is removed from the body of the casing.

2. A holder for dry cell electric batteries connprising a casing having a body portion and a removable top, a battery cage arranged in said body portion and permanently connecte l thereto, means on said cage for ctlecting electrical connections between the cells therein, a pair of electrical contacts on said cage, a pair of electrical contacts on said removable top, said last mentioned electrical contacts being provided with ral flanges at their lower ends'adapted to engage and contact with the electrical i'acts on said cage when the said removtop is in position on the body portion or the casing, substantially asdescribed and tor the purposes set forth.

1 a holder for dry cell electric batteries comprising a casing having, abody portion and a removable top, a battery'cage in said body portion and permanently connected thereto, and means for e'ilectingan electrical connection between the said cage and the said removable top when the said removable top is in position on the body portion of the casing, said electrical connection including said top contact-inenibers depending from l'iid having lateral flanges at their lower) ends, said cage body pol-lion beingequipped With contacbmembers adapted to be engagei'l by said contact-member "ianges.

a. A battery fholder comprising a cage to Y8 electric dry cells, means for effectan electrical conncction'between the zinc p lit: of one cell and the zinc pole of an atlfiacent cell, said means coniprising'an elec l'rioal spring contact for each cell mounted on the said cage, each electrical spring coin tact being pro ided'With a longitudinal slot. near the free end thereof,- 'a longitudinal all "ce end thereof, said contact being pros'ith a vertically disposed notch in end thereof, said longitudinal slot, 'udinal notch and Vertically disposed notch being adapted to engage the zinc pole of electric dry cells of Various forms and desig s, substantially as described and for the pi rposes' set forth. I

5. A dlfitftefy holder comprising. a battery s to receive electric dry cells, means for siting an electrical connection between the zinc 'ole, of one cell and the zinc pole an adjacent cell, said -1ncans com prising an electrical. ,arcuate spring contact mounted on said cage for each cell therein for engageinent With the positive poleof each cell, each 3' of said electrical spring contacts being provided upon its convex surface With serrationsto effect an electrical contact with the positive pole of an. electricdry cell.

6. A battery holder comprising a. cage, a

v series of metallic cell holders in said cage to receive electric dry cells, means for effect-- mg an electrical connectionbetween the zinc pole of each electric dry cell and its nietallie cell holder including a. pivoted resilient connector'member having a notched terminal adapted to engage the top edge of said coll-holder, means for effecting an electrical connection between the positive pole of each ol' the dry cells and. its adjacentmetallic cell holder. said means -including means for ellccling an electrical connection between the negative pole of one cell holder and the metallic coll holder of its adjacent cell in gin-l waiimr as to out out of the series a rel! virhin ilie said cage.

therein to receive adjacent said longitudinal slot near of the body portion 7. A battery-holder including a cage, a plurality of metallic cell-holders located av plurality of electric drycells, means for establishing electric connection between each 01 the metallic cell-holders and its electric dry-cell, means for ell-eating an electric connection between the positive pole of each of said electric dry-cells and the metallic cellholdcr of its adjacent cell, comprising a pivoted resilient connector-member having a downturncd notched terminal for effecting connection with the top edge of said cell-holder, closure for said cage, a pair of electric contacts upon said closure, 21 pair of electric, cont-acts upon said cage. said first referred to contacts having engagement-With the latter pair of contacts when said closure is in closed position upon said cage.

8. A battery-holder including (a casing having'a removabl'e closure, a cage provided With metallic holders for receiving dry-cell electric batteries, means for establishing electric connection between each of said inetallic holders and its dry-cell, means for establishing electric. conhection between, the positive pole of each oi -said electric drycells and the metallic cel holder or its adjacent cell comprising a pivoted resilient connector-member having a. downturned notched terminal for effecting connection with the top edge of saidicell-holder, means applied to said closure for establishing electrical connection with. said dry-cell electric batteries, a pair of electric spring, contacts arranged upon said cage, a pair of electric contacts upon said plosure having their lower end terminals adapted to engage said pair of electric contacts arranged upon said cage when said closure is prone upoh sai'd casing, binding posts upon said closure and electrical connections"between said contacts upon said closure and said binding posts substantially as described and for the pur: pose set'forth.

9'. A battery holder comprising a cage, a plurality of cell holders in said cage to receive electric dry cells, each of said cell holders comprising a bodyportion and a collar or sleeve portion, thc'saicl body portion of each of the electric'eell holders being provided. with an annular projecting bead, the said. collar or sleeve portion of each of said cell holders passing overvthe upper end its cell holder and bottoming against the said projecting, annular bead on the said body portion of each of the said cell holders, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

.10. A battery, including a cage, a cellholder within the latter, means for establishing an electrical connection between said cell-holder and the containeddry cell, sald 'cell-holdcr.comprising a sleeve member and a body member having an outstandingbeadv like shoulder thereon to limit the slipping In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, of sad skew-member upen geld body memin presence of two witnesses.

ber, said sleevemember having upon its inv side a leai-spring'wit-h one end fixed thereto GEORGE Y, 5 and its. other end depending into said body- Witnesses;

member, said leaf-spring being serrated for JQHN L. FLETCHER,

engagement with the dry cell. 4 M.- A; "MULLEN. 

